Sermon Reflections from Turning Anger into Love | Damon Hopkins | March 17,2024
I love to hear Damon speak as he always speaks from experience and a heart in tune with God. Like Pastor Alex when he began this series, he began with an experience of anger and its consequences. Damon’s experience was an anger or dislike of a person based on something he could not readily identify. The dislike or hatred grew each time he was with this person. Being in tune with the Holy Spirit within him, his spirit was agitated as his feelings did not line up with what he felt a Christian should feel. Damon turned to God and asked him to reveal the source of this dislike and turn it to good. Over time, Damon learned to love and appreciate this individual because God led and he listened. The Holy Spirit can and will do a mighty work within us moving, changing, refining, and molding our character so that we can better reflect our Lord Jesus. Damon has gleaned 3 principles about anger that he shared with us.
It was truly a pleasure to have Damon back to speak to us. He is a walking miracle and brings God’s light whenever and wherever he speaks. Thanks Damon for your heartfelt words of wisdom from Gods’ Word. Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass Sermon Reflections based on from Rhythms-Refuge in the Almighty | Alex Hardt | February 4,2024
Pastor Alex was in teaching mode this Sunday. He wanted us to see God as viable hope and security in our ever-changing chaotic world. He also wanted us to see that we too could draw nearer to God Himself by practicing some basic connecting activities. Psalm 46 is a wonderful psalm that gives us hope and courage in the face of adversity. God promises to be our refuge (safe place, fortress) when we are in trouble. The psalmist describes the world as a place where things fall, decay, roar, shake, in contrast to Holy God who is eternal, unfailing, and the ender of wars. He will prevail and the nations and the whole earth will one day exalt Him. Pastor Alex suggests that we should read His word, meditate upon it and pray. The psalmist suggests a similar pathway in verse 10, “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;” We have to be still to read His Word. We have to be still to pray. I’m not talking about being still as in not moving but still in our minds, focused upon God’s Word. This means not letting our minds wander to the grocery list, tasks for the day, worries, and life’s problems but to keep our minds still and present as we read the word and pray. Focusing upon God Almighty as our refuge will allow us to absorb His strength and power into our daily life and keep ourselves from fretting, worrying or being consumed with fear. He promises to be our refuge and God keeps His promises. James 4:7-10 is a powerful reminder that focus upon God will send Satan away and be life changing. “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. God promises to come to us if we go towards Him. Sometimes the most we can do is one step, but know that the one step is the beginning of change. If we are sorry for the wrongs we do and grieve over them in our hearts, God will change our sorrow to joy and gladness. It is humbling to come to God as we are independent, pride-filled, stubborn people. But that one step towards God in faith will lead to step after step. With each step our faith grows stronger and our hope and trust in Him is confirmed. Each step causes us to trust more fully in Him and the plans He has for our lives. Lastly, Pastor Alex led us to participate in 2 Rhythms that are essential for drawing closer to God the Reading of God’s Word and Prayer. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us of the power of God’s Word in our lives. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” James speaks of reasons to pray and the power of prayer. James 5:13, 15-16 “ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Paul speaks of the need to be consistent with our prayers, Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” I so enjoyed the exercise Pastor Alex lead us through by reading Psalm 46 repeatedly and focusing on different messages God has for us in His Word. With prayer, Pastor Alex walked us through good steps to follow when praying. Praising God, Confession of sin, Thanksgiving, and lastly Petitions or Supplications. The Anonym, ACTS, for this practice is easy to remember to guide us as we pray. A-adoration of God for who He is, C-confession of our sins and shortcomings, T-thanksgiving for all the ways we see God working in our lives, His providential care, S-supplications or requests for ourselves and others. I would suggest one activity that helps to draw me closer to God. When I read a passage like Psalm 46 I will often read it in multiple versions to see what insights God has for me. I often use the New International version, English Standard version, Amplified translation, the Message translation, the New King James and I love the New Living translation. Some of these are more accurate translations and some paraphrased but all can help me see God’s message for my heart. Whatever we do, taking that 1 step in faith- opening our Bibles, saying short or long prayers, will always bring us closer to God if we focus upon Him and let go of the cares of the world. God is faithful and will meet us there! Guaranteed, as God keeps His promises. Linda MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Transform For God | Alex Hardt | August 13, 2023
Pastor Alex began his message on Transformation by God by helping us to see who God really is. We know our finite minds cannot fully comprehend God, but He has given us reason and intellect to see that He is undeniably good. His attributes describe His character both the things we cannot obtain like His incommunicable attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, eternality, immutability and omnipotence. God also has communicable attributes like love, holiness, grace, peace, faithfulness, wisdom, and kindness. In these communicable attributes we cannot attain the fullness of His character but we can draw nearer and have those as part of our character too. It is like saying He wants us to be more and more like the character of Jesus, His Son. I was reading Psalm 89 this morning and came across these verses that seem to mirror what Alex was saying. Psalm 89:6-9, 14-15 For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? 7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. 8 Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. The psalmist was seeking to understand and praise Almighty God. God is above all and worthy of our praise and love. Once we grasp who God is, we see Him in stark contrast to the sin-filled world we live in. We see His motives, ways and actions are above this world and are pure and driven by his Omnibenevolent character. The world is motivated and driven by greed, hate, discrimination, hopelessness, division, and strife as a result of SIN. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they brought sin into a perfect world. Sin corrupts both man and the world in which he lives. Pastor Alex reminded us that when we identify with the world and let it dictate who we are and what we are doing, we buy into a destructive narrative that leads to death. We see the truth of Romans 3:23 in our own lives. “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” If we follow the world’s standards we fall short of what God has for us. We let sin invade and pervade our lives. If we turn to Him, we can see an end to the destructiveness of the world and its influences. Romans 6:23 reminds us of the joy of turning to God “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Christ is the answer and the way to God. Pastor Alex’s final point in our transformation to God was to receive the promises of God and to reorient ourselves to God and His plan. We know from Isaiah 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We will never fully understand God but we can know His character and His promises. His promises are true and are tangible hope we can cling to as we seek to follow Him. He are a few life changing promises you can claim. The accessibility of God Almighty in my life: Psalm 86:5-7 “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.6 Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy.7 When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.” The faithfulness of God in my life: Lamentations 3:21-23 “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” And Matthew 11:28-30 ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The Forgiveness of God towards me: 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” The Guidance of God in my life: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” The Hope God give into my life: Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. And 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. The Salvation God gives through my faith in Jesus: John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. And Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” The Love God inputs into my life for now and into eternity: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Which promises of God will you claim today? Which will you use to reorient your life and your thinking towards God? God keeps His promises- ALL of THEM! Linda If you want to study more about living a life that is more and more like Jesus, try my devotional book “Strategic Living.” If you want to study more about specific promise try my devotional book “Promises for Dynamic Living.” I have copies of both or you can order them from Amazon or Certa Publishing. Both are topics I am passionate about. MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. SUSermon Reflections from Transform For Mission | Alex Hardt | August 6, 2023
Pastor Alex sought to answer the basic questions we all have: Who am I? Where do I belong? Why am I here? When we succeed in answering these questions basic to life, we become more self-assured, hopeful and motivated. We can all agree that without the answers to these questions we will be doubting life, drifting, not connected and without purpose. Those without Christ seek answers in the world with things, people, projects, education, etc. Those with Christ know He holds the answer to each questions providing us with hope, motivation and value. Pastor Alex began with Who am I? He wanted us to see how God sees us and gives us value. Our identity and our value is given to us by God. God was intentional in our design and loves us even when we do not love Him! I particularly liked Ephesians 1:4-6 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” We are loved and valued by God and He made a way for us, sinful man, to be blameless in His sight through Jesus. Our value and identity come though Jesus as God loved us so much He made the ultimate sacrifice in sending His Son to redeem us. “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16. God’s motivation was LOVE. He desires a relationship with us and He made a way for that to happen. My heart is always gladdened when I read Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in his: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loved and valued me even before I came to Him. How wonderful is that?!!! Next, Pastor Alex tackled the question of Worth with the concept of where do I fit in? Where is my place in this world? Where do I belong? Our worth comes from God. We are His treasured possession as proclaimed in Exodus 19:5 “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,” How does that make you feel? The God of the Universe loves and treasures you! Jesus also spoke of his family and our adoption into His family. Romans 8:15 tells us that we belong to Him and can call God our Father. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” We are adopted into His family. Mark 3:34-35 “ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Each and every believer Jesus considers His brother and sister. How much more valued can we get? Belonging to the King is a special place and honor. Galatians 4:6 tells us how we can know for sure we belong to Him. “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” His Spirit within us is our proof. I claim the truth of Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Praise God we can know and feel His presence in our lives and know for certain we are loved by Him! Lastly, Pastor Alex answered the question, Why am I here? The basic answer is God created us for a purpose to glorify Him and for His pleasure. His pleasure will bring us pleasure too. His purposes will give meaning and definition to our lives. One of my favorite scriptures I claim is Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” We are made for relationship with him. He promises direction, a listening ear, hope, a future and plans that are for my benefit. There are multiple scriptures that guide us in seeing God has a plan and a purpose for which we were made. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ God has a purpose and plan for all things. Colossians 1:16 “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.“ This gives me comfort in knowing God has a plan for our world and nothing happens without His allowing it. We know that God has a plan and purpose for us but how do we know what that is? 1 Peter 4:10 gives us a glimpse into this. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” We are to use our gifts given though the Spirit in addition to His Word as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 suggests. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” He has good works for us to do that will benefit the body of Christ. “ How personally are we to take this work God has for us. Here is Paul’s perspective in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” How serious are you about serving, using your God given gifts, studying the Word for direction and guidance and prayer? Blessings as you ponder life’s questions and the answers God gives through Jesus. Comb the scriptures and you will see abundant proof of His LOVE, Your WORTH in Him and Your PURPOSE! Linda SUMMARY OF MESSAGE Click Here for Summary MESSAGE LINK Click Here to View the Message on Youtube Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. Sermon Reflections from Are You There God | Alex Hardt | May 4, 2023
The topic of Pastor Alex’s sermon poses one of the most critical questions each of us faces in life- Who Am I? Then the follow-up question: why am I here? Once we know who we are then we can go about seeing why God created us at this time and in this place. Who am I is the question that has been asked by every generation. Since we believe that the answers to life’s questions are found in the Bible which is our guide, Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path,” we can look to God’s Word for our answers. Pastor Alex said that it is not about what we have done or are doing in life but about what God has done that will help us see who we are. Here are a few things we know from scripture that tell us who we are that could not be accomplished by anything we can or will do. I am reconciled to God. Romans 5:10-11 “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” No way could we reconcile ourselves to perfect and holy God without His help. I am justified or declared not guilty. Romans 3:23-24 and Romans 5:1 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” and “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is no way we could declare ourselves not guilty of sin without God’s intervention through Christ Jesus. I am forgiven. Colossians 1:13-14 and Isaiah 38:17 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. and “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.” Never could we become forgiven by anything we said or did, only God can make us new and forgive our sins! Pastor Alex pointed out an important point about our identity in Christ that we are loved by God. We are his children and He is our heavenly Father. Here are a few things about God’s loving us that will warm your heart and cause you to be thankful. I am a child of God. John 1:12-13 “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” Through our faith in Jesus we are ushered into God’s forever family and are adopted as His sons and daughters. I am loved by God. Jeremiah 31:3 and Ephesians 2:4-5 ““I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’ and “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” We can love God but cannot make Him love us. He initiates the loving and loves us eternally. His love makes us alive in Him. Lastly, Pastor Alex reminded us that we are a gift because God created each of us for His purpose. Our memory verse for this week speaks to this fact in Ephesians 2:10. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. We were not made at random but created by God as his handiwork. Other translations use the word masterpiece. He did not make a mistake when he made you! You can also take heart as you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 and Genesis 1:27 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” and “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” God took time and care creating each of us and we reflect or bear Him image. We are His masterpieces! This week take some time to reflect upon what you have in Christ and how it makes you, you! Each believer is unique in Christ and yet is to reflect the things given to us by and through Christ. As you meditate on Christ and what He has given you, God will give you clarity on who you are in Him and then will reveal what He has for you to do. In all things we are to glorify Him. Seek Him and He will show you how you are His masterpiece and what purposes He has for you! Linda Romans 15:5-6 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” SERMON LINK Click Here to View the Sermon Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am. Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. |
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